Tomcats for USAF

LAST EDITED ON 13-Oct-00 AT 07:23 PM (GMT)[p]Hi

In 1971, Grumman proposed the F-14 as a contender for the USAF’s Improved Manned Interceptor program, which was an attempt to find a replacement for the Convair F-106 Delta Dart. The proposed USAF F-14 looked very much like the Navy F-14 but had enormous conformal fuel tank on the belly and four external fuel tanks.

The USAF found this proposal attractive because of its very long range and the capabilities of its AN/AWG-9 fire control system and its associated AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. However, the IMI F-14 proposal was ultimately defeated by its high cost, and nothing ever got off the drawing board.

Ever heard about this?